A survey of 25 major retailers representing more than 18,900 stores across the U.S. reveals that shoplifters and dishonest employees stole more than $6 billion in 2009. While the surveyed retailers apprehended more than one million of the thieves, they recovered less than 3% of the total amount stolen--over $163 million, according to the 22nd Annual Retail Theft Survey conducted by leading loss prevention firm Jack L. Hayes International.

 

Apprehensions of both shoplifters and dishonest employees increased for the fourth consecutive year, up nearly 15% from 2008, according to Mark Doyle, the firm's president. Surveyed retailers apprehended 1,014,817 shoplifters in 2009, up 16.8% from 2008. However, apprehensions of dishonest employees decreased by 9.4% in 2009 to 70,409, after being up the previous five years.

 

"It appears the poor economy had a hand in both an increase in shoplifting and a decrease in employee theft," said Doyle. "Shoplifting apprehensions appear to have increased due to the hard times many people were having and less employees on the sales floor to prevent shoplifting. Employee apprehensions decreased in 2009 due to fewer new hires, less employees overall, and some employees being afraid to lose their jobs."

 

Unfortunately for retailers, even if the poor economy discourages employees from stealing, those who do steal are more harmful to the bottom line than shoplifters. On a per-case average, dishonest employees steal 6.6 times the amount stolen by shoplifters: $728.90 vs. $110.14.

 

Other highlights of the annual theft survey:

• The 25 retail company survey participants represented 18,906 stores, providing an excellent cross-section of U.S. retail and accounting for more than $605 billion in annual sales.

• Over $163 million was recovered from apprehended shoplifters and dishonest employees, down 4.9% from 2008.

• Over $51 million was recovered from employee apprehensions in 2009, down 15.7% in 2008.

• On a per-company basis, one in every 28.4 employees was apprehended for theft from their employer, based on over 2.9 million employees.